The Pathlighter PCB, initially known as the Glow Club PCB, is a wearable piece of PCB art crafted for the community.
It serves a dual purpose: as a practical tool for teaching about LEDs and soldering, and as a creative demonstration of using a PCB’s foundational layers to craft a unique art piece. Designed to be worn on a lanyard, the Pathlighter PCB acts as a beacon, lighting up the night and ensuring safety for its wearers.
This innovative PCB made its debut in an electronics education group and has since been featured in soldering workshops at ToorCamp 2022 and Chaos Communication Camp ’23. Its design is particularly well-suited for larger events where workshop demand often outstrips available resources. The Pathlighter PCB’s efficient design allows newcomers to complete their project in approximately 20 minutes. This swift completion rate creates a “revolving door” dynamic in the workshop, allowing for a continuous flow of participants and maximizing educational outreach.
Having been taught to over 450 students so far, the Pathlighter PCB workshop has been a delightful experience to teach students how to solder and to earn a unique wearable art piece. Each participant not only learns valuable skills but also becomes an honorary member of the Glow Club. May we all shine brighter together through these shared experiences.
Check out some of the colors that the badge emits
Passing out workshop components at ToorCamp '23
Batch assembling some glow club pcbs.
Glow Club PCB design from Chaos Communication Camp '23
Students assembling their glow club badges at Chaos Communication Camp '23
The EMF Explorer Badge is an electromagnetic frequency sensing circuit that lets you listed to the world of hidden electromagnetic frequencies around you.
So much can be discovered through listening. The way that Bluetooth hardware sounds when it’s operating. How cellphones sound when they are transmitting data. What a laptop touchpad sounds like when it detects touch. The electronics world is invisibly emitting sounds around us all the time that we are mostly unaware of.
The completed PCB can also be worn as a badge on a lanyard, used to illuminate yourself at night, and be ready to sniff out hidden EMF signals with the use of headphones. No previous electronics experience is required to appreciate and use this badge, and it’s a great way to learn more about your world by exploring the different properties of our surroundings. The kit requires soldering and runs on two AAA batteries.
In this project, I explored the intersection of collaborative creation and interactive technology. My role involved conceptualizing and designing a large-scale interactive piece, with a focus on creating a framework for a project that was meant to be completed as a group, which resulted in a highly interactive piece that merged both art and technology. The initial phase consisted of prototyping and programming, laying the groundwork for a more expansive collaborative effort.
The project was structured into a series of steps, each designed to be sequentially and independently achievable within a group setting. This approach facilitated a weekend-long hackathon, where I, along with approximately eight assistants, dedicated eight hours to the construction, assembly, and refinement of the piece. Our collective efforts culminated in the creation of an interactive MIDI Twister board.
This piece, a fusion of artistic vision and technical expertise, has since been featured in various CETI events. It stands as an example of how technology can be harnessed to create engaging, interactive art experiences, and reflects a commitment to the collaborative process in artistic endeavors.
This workshop delved into the intricacies of speaker technology, with a special emphasis on the construction of soft speakers.
Central to the workshop was an exploration of electromagnetism principles and their application in speaker design. Through a blend of theoretical and practical sessions, attendees gained hands-on experience in creating experimental speakers. Utilizing innovative techniques, they employed vinyl cutters and copper foil sheets to craft their own unique speakers.
For those interested in the detailed process and discussions of this, recordings of this workshop, along with livestreams other workshops hosted during this series, are available. These recordings offer a glimpse into the depth of learning and creativity fostered during the event, showcasing the intersection of technology, art, and education.
This workshop was debuted at Portland State University at the CETI Institute as a part of a multi-day learning series. Over several days, participants were immersed in a comprehensive learning experience that encompassed the essentials of microcontrollers, electronics, and e-textiles.
This workshop delved into the integration of sensors as inputs for modulating Pure Data. Over the course of a 2 part series workshop, students learned how to use Pure Data to build patches for audio control. For the second part, we focused on the practical application of these tools, guiding participants through building their own midi controllers using microcontrollers programmed with Arduino. This hands-on approach allowed each attendee to leave with their own interactive instrument, a tangible representation of the skills and concepts covered. This workshop was originally offered at the Make+Think+Code lab at Pacific Northwest College of Art, which I taught alongside Hugo Paris, where we combined our expertise to offer a comprehensive and immersive learning experience.
In this workshop, participants were immersed in the fundamental design principles essential for crafting soft circuitry. The session was structured to guide students through the process of designing their first functional soft circuit prototype. As part of the comprehensive introduction, I presented an array of techniques prevalent in e-textiles and soft circuitry applications. This included an introduction to basic schematic interpretation and circuit design, equipping students with the knowledge to create their own fabric circuits using materials like vinyl cut copper foil and conductive copper tape.
One of the highlights of the workshop was demonstrating how these techniques could be applied to create fabric speakers. To further the hands-on learning experience, I programmed microcontroller ICs for the class, allowing participants to directly engage with building and testing their own circuits throughout the course. This practical approach not only reinforced the theoretical aspects covered but also provided students with a tangible sense of achievement and a solid foundation for further exploration in the field of soft circuitry.
This workshop was debuted at Make+Think+Code Lab at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
During this workshop, I introduce students to the fundamentals of designing audio circuits, specifically focusing on CMOS ICs and various resistive inputs. The session is designed to be hands-on, with students learning to solder a printed circuit board kit I developed. This kit is not just a learning tool for the workshop but also a resource for any future designs that students might undertake, aimed at simplifying breadboard prototyping. The workshop is aimed to be completed in under 3 hours.
The curriculum for the CMOS design workshop was significantly inspired by the book “Handmade Electronic Music.” It was a privilege to teach this workshop alongside Nicolas Collins for his sonic arts class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), bringing the concepts from the book to life. The workshop was also conducted for Jesse Seay’s electronic sound arts class at Columbia College and at Pumping Station: One, Chicago’s largest and oldest hackerspace.
At each session, we explored different sound applications, allowing students to immerse themselves in the practical aspects of sound circuitry. Particularly at Pumping Station: One, students not only learned about different sound applications but also gained valuable skills in soldering and reading schematics. This workshop was a comprehensive exploration of audio circuitry, offering students foundational knowledge and skills that they could carry forward into their own creative and technical endeavours.
The success of this workshop series was significantly bolstered by the generous donation of circuit board prodcution, courtesy of OshPark. This contribution was instrumental in mitigating the costs associated with PCB production, thereby enhancing the accessibility and quality of the workshop for all participants.
Workshop Conducted at SAIC for Nicolas Collins’ Hardware Hacking Class
Footage from Jesse Seay’s Electronics Class at Columbia College.
Darcy Neal and Nicolas Collins
Nicolas Collins, the esteemed author of “Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking,” has been a significant influence in my formative years in the field of electronic arts. His book provided not only inspiration but also foundational knowledge that propelled my journey in electronics and music. Therefore, it was a great honor to attend and conduct a workshop for his electronics class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). This opportunity allowed me to share my experiences and knowledge with a new generation of creators, all under the guidance of a figure who has been so pivotal in my own educational and professional development.
Footage from the electronics workshop held at Pumping Station: One. Special thanks to Jesse Seay for their assistance in organizing this event!
In this workshop, students embarked on the journey of creating their first interactive audio circuit. They began by assembling a circuit on a breadboard, which was provided to them during the session. An integral part of the learning experience was gaining an understanding of how to read and interpret electronic schematics. This foundational knowledge allowed them to effectively use a breadboard for prototyping, which is a crucial skill in electronics.
As the workshop progressed, attendees learned how to modify their circuit to produce various effects, delving into the creative and technical aspects of sound production. Additionally, they were introduced to a range of alternative materials capable of generating sound, expanding their understanding of the possibilities within audio circuitry.
This particular workshop has continually evolved and was originally presented during the New Media Art & Sound Summit in Austin, TX. Each iteration aims to build upon the last, ensuring that participants not only learn the basics but also explore the expanding boundaries of interactive audio and electronics.
